SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4
NEWS: This evening the Tuesday Bible Study takes place at the home of Allen and Debbie Kolkman. It starts at 6:30 PM with a short devotion. The study then takes place, followed by fellowship time with coffee and some goodies. Things conclude around 8 PM. All are invited to attend.
This Thursday the Board of Directors meet at 7:00 PM. Be on the lookout for information on whether this will be in person or via Zoom.
Saturday we have our monthly Men’s Bible Study/Breakfast at 9 AM in our Fellowship Hall. That’s followed at 10 by the monthly Work Party. Our Fellowship Team is also meeting at 10 in the Fellowship/Community building.
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Chris Roth.
READINGS: Psalm 80; Deuteronomy 4:21-40; Matthew 8:1-17
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Suffering”
Ruth 1:1, 3-6, 14b-19a – In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. … Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. These took Moabite wives …. They lived there about ten years, and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband. Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard … that the LORD had visited His people and given them food. … And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more. So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem.
It’s a strange family for the Messiah to arise from—one filled with tragedy, grief upon grief. First came the famine, and they moved away to a foreign country to try to make a living. Then the father dies, leaving his wife alone with two sons. They marry local girls, but there are no children. Then both sons die, and the women are left with nothing at all.
It’s the kind of horrible situation that shakes people’s faith—in fact, it probably shakes the faith of the bystanders even more than it does the faith of those who are suffering. How could God let so many terrible things happen to someone? Has God completely forgotten them?
Naomi and Ruth did not have any answers to these questions. They just did the best they could. They moved back to Bethlehem, where they would live in poverty, with Ruth picking up bits of grain in the fields of nearby farmers.
You probably know how the story ends. Through a series of unlikely events, Ruth marries a local landowner named Boaz and becomes the great-grandmother of King David. Ruth couldn’t foresee any of this, but God could. God had in mind to use her as part of Jesus’ family tree.
Ruth brought her status as an outsider into Jesus’ family—yes, and her sorrow and her endurance with her as well. These were fitting gifts for the great-great-great grandchild who would be called “a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3b). If your life is full of suffering and grief, you too fit right in with Jesus’ family. You are the one He is calling to belong to Him. He wants you-so much that He lay down His life to make you His, and rose again so that you could belong to Him forever.
WE PRAY: Lord, You know my troubles. Help me to trust in You. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions:
1. What effect does trouble have on your faith?
2. Why do you think it has that effect?
3. How do you find help in God when you are deeply troubled?
Today’s Bible Readings: Isaiah 59-61 Romans 11:19-36
Luther’s Morning Prayer
In the morning, as soon as you get out of bed, you are to make the Sign of the Cross and say:
“God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit watch over me. Amen.”
Then, kneeling or standing, say the Apostles’ Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. In addition recite this prayer as well:
“I give thanks to you, my heavenly Father through Jesus Christ your dear son, that you have protected me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you that you would also protect me today from sin and all evil, so that my life and actions may please you completely. For into your hands I commend myself: my body, my soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel be with me, so that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.”
After singing a hymn or whatever else may serve your devotion, you can go about your day joyfully!
Luther’s Evening Prayer
In the evening, when you go to bed, you are to make the Sign of the Cross and say:
“God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit watch over me. Amen.”
Then, kneeling or standing, say the Apostles’ Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. In addition recite this prayer as well:
“I give thanks to you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ your dear Son, that you have graciously protected me today, and I ask you to forgive me all my sins, where I have done wrong, and graciously to protect me tonight. For into your hands I commend myself: my body, my soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel be with me, so that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.”
You can now go to bed quickly and cheerfully.
OTHER RESOURCES:
Our church website is: https://www.svlchurch.org/
Below is our Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/shepherdofthevalleyoceanside
Here is the website for Lutherans for Life: https://lutheransforlife.org/
Here is the website for Lutheran Hour Ministries: https://www.lhm.org/
Lutheran Public Radio is listener supported and has two channels, one for sacred music and the other for talk, including news, current issues, politics and spiritual matters from a Lutheran perspective. Hosted by Pastor Todd Wilken, Issues, Etc. airs live Monday thru Friday from 1 to 3 pm Pacific, with the “Best Of” running at other hours: https://lutheranpublicradio.org/
KFUO is the listener supported radio station owned and operated by the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. Based in St. Louis, their format consists of teaching, preaching, ministry and sacred music: https://www.kfuo.org/
A very blessed Tuesday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us
Pastor Joel at pastor@svlchurch.org
